Love, Poetry and Revolution - Friday 7th November 2025

I implied there'd be another, and there is. This is it.

I have been doing quite a lot, so there's probably a lot to write about. I'm uncertain how much I am in the mood to write, though. I'm going to list a lot of the things I could write about, then see what that sparks in the little grey cells.

Of note:

Bagheera being put to sleep
Robyn Hitchcock
John Bishop
Suzanne Vega
Todd Rundgren
Slow Horses (Season 5)
Celebrity Traitors
MAFS UK (Have mercy on my soul)
The Sandman
Lots of Archaeology on TV
Ancestors (Book)
The Idler
The White Lotus (Season 1 - Descent into Hell)
Online Course at the James Joyce Cultural Centre in Dublin studying 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' (Next 6 weeks)
The Reader at Calderstones Park Mansion House
Back pain/Balance - Full Spine MRI scan (next week)

The saddest thing has been the death of Q and φ's cat, Bagheera. She was a lovely black cat and is much missed.

Q and I saw Robyn Hitchcock at Prohibition Studios in Liverpool, the smallest venue I've seen a gig in (bar one), and which hosts a maximum of about 40 people.  He was supported on backing vocals by Emma Swift, a singer in her own right, and, coincidentally, Robyn's wife. Great set and final sing-along to 'A Day In The Life' by a local band. In the audience was Mike McCartney and his son, both of whom Robyn chatted with. Mike's brother is probably a bit more famous?

Set 1:
  • Tonight (The Soft Boys song)
  • Shuffle Man
  • Madonna of the Wasps (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song)
  • Century
  • The Feathery Serpent God
  • Globe of Frogs (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song)
  • Alright, Yeah (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song)
  • I Saw Nick Drake
  • Victorian Squid
  • Satellite
  • I Wanna Destroy You (The Soft Boys song)
 
Set 2:
  • I Want to Tell You About What I Want
  • I Often Dream of Trains
  • Raymond and the Wires
  • Raymond Chandler Evening (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song)
  • Airscape (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song)
  • Glass Hotel (with Emma Swift)
  • So You Think You're in Love (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song) (with Emma Swift)
  • Queen Elvis (with Emma Swift)
  • The Yip Song (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians song) (with Emma Swift)
(Emma leaves)
 
Encores (without leaving the stage, as too much hassle and a curfew!)
  • Queen of Eyes (The Soft Boys song)
  • A Day in the Life (The Beatles cover) (Singalong) (Walked amongst crowd during the song.)
In stark contrast, we saw John Bishop the following night in the vast aircraft hangar that is the M&S Bank Arena.  The gig was part of his 25-year anniversary celebration tour.  There were a lot of laughs, but he teeters on the verge of old-school comedy and some of the jokes might have sat better in a set 25 years ago. Luckily, he is at least a little aware of the times, though some of the women-versus-men stuff was a bit sad and hackneyed.  I hated the venue. We were very high up.

A few words about Suzanne Vega, the next night (three gigs in a row!). She was supported by English folk singer Katherine Priddy, who did a great set including her new single 'Matches', which I rather like.  Q is more of a fan of SV than I am, and I was most looking forward to hearing (and seeing) Gerry Leonard on guitar as part of her 'band'? Gerry Leonard played guitar with David Bowie and wrote the wonderful reworking of 'Loving The Alien' which appeared on the 'Reality' tour.  Two thongs emerged: I enjoyed SV, and she played a great set. Gerry's spooky guitar adds a great deal to her songs.  He was brilliant.

  • Marlene on the Wall
  • 99.9 F°
  • Caramel
  • Small Blue Thing
  • Gypsy
  • In Liverpool
  • The Queen and the Soldier
  • Flying with Angels
  • Speakers' Corner
  • Chambermaid
  • Left of Center
  • I Never Wear White
  • Some Journey
  • Luka
  • Tom's Diner
Encore:
  • Alley
  • Blood Makes Noise
  • Galway


Next gig was Todd Rundgren at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. We stayed overnight in a hotel just around the corner.  This was part of the European leg of his 'Me/We' tour.  His voice was in fine form, and he played a set mostly made up of recent songs. It was by no means a greatest hits set, and I think you'd need to be a real fan to fully enjoy it.  I loved it. The encore included two of my favourites - 'The Last Ride' and 'Fade Away'. It wasn't really Q's cup of tea, though the rendition of 'Stoodup' from the album 'Liars' did catch her attention.  Here's the setlist:

  • How About a Little Fanfare? (From Tape)
  • I Think You Know
  • Secret Society (Utopia song)
  • Weakness
  • Stood Up
  • Lost Horizon
  • Buffalo Grass
  • Beloved Infidel
  • Hit Me Like a Train
  • Wouldn't You Like to Know
  • Sweet
  • Kindness
  • Woman's World
  • Afterlife
  • Down With the Ship
  • Honest Work
  • Rock Love (Utopia song)
  • God Said
  • Fascist Christ
  • Hawking
  • Worldwide Epiphany

Encore:

  • I Saw the Light / Can We Still Be Friends / Hello It's Me
  • The Last Ride
  • Fade Away

Unfortunately, Q had to get up early and fly to Belfast the next morning, so she left me asleep.  After checking out of the hotel, I met son #1 for lunch, which we both enjoyed. I caught the train back to Liverpool after that.

I'll cover more of this in a later post, probably. Some of it deserves words.

Suzanne Vega /  'I Never Wear White'  / 'Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles'


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